To Maria Ilyinichna Ulyanova. Moscow Street,
Samarin House, Apt. 3. Vologda. Russia. Vologda

22/IV.

Dear Manyasha! I have received word that you are supposedly dissatisfied with my prolonged silence. I am indeed gravely guilty on the matter of letters — it is simply very difficult in our (and especially in my) position to conduct correspondence as one would wish...

I received Mama's letter yesterday addressed to me and Nadia. Kiss Mama firmly for me. Perhaps things will be better for you in the summer than they were in winter.

Recently I received information about the Olonetsk exile. They were gathering material on the situation and composition of the exile: the vast majority are workers, newcomers (post-revolutionary), out of 150 people in the district there are 2 liquidators, few left-wing populists. Evidently the exile is changing significantly in its composition — it would be interesting to gather data on this and publish something occasionally in "Enlightenment." 327 Nadia has written to you and is planning to write again.

In about two weeks we are going again to Poronin — there are mountains there, and I hope that Nadia's Basedow's disease will pass; this illness is treated with mountain air. The weather here is splendid just now; I frequently go cycling.

Generally speaking, though this town of ours is deaf and wild, I am nonetheless more satisfied here than in Paris. The commotion of colonial life there was incredible; the nerves were torn to shreds pointlessly and unnecessarily. It is inconvenient to work in Paris — the Bibliothèque nationale* is poorly organized — we have more than once recalled Geneva, where work went better, the library is convenient, life is less nerve-wracking and chaotic. Of all the places of my wandering I would choose London or Geneva, if both were not so far away. Geneva is especially fine for its general cultural level and extraordinarily—

* — National Library. Ed.